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Re: So two Axiomites come together yet miss each other
nickbuol #420476 09/26/16 03:51 AM
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Waters are rising. It was another busy day today. We helped a family move out of their home today. They didn't bother putting sandbags or other protection around or in the house as they were emptying it and most likely abandoning it if water reaches it.

The humbling part is just seeing what type of living conditions people live in. The smell in the house was pretty bad. The bedroom carpets looked like under the beds was nasty black mold... Not saying it was, just that it was anything but clean.

Throughout the day we saw random people just driving up and down streets with pickup trucks full of sand bags, and just stopped whenever they saw someone and asking if they needed sandbags. If so, they would pull over, unload and stack them wherever it was needed. Others just came around with water and snacks. Just amazing. The city started their "recommended" evacuation and curfew for those that don't evacuate at 8pm. We saw a group of people claiming that they were sticking around until the cops kick them out.

All sandbag filling locations are closed, streets are empty, it is eerily quiet. Things kick back into high gear at 7am tomorrow before the big flooding kicks in. The river is already about 6 feet above flood stage, and just on the cusp of real damage coming soon.


Farewell - June 4, 2020
Re: So two Axiomites come together yet miss each other
nickbuol #420478 09/26/16 12:38 PM
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Best of luck, hope the flooding doesn't turn out as bad as forecast.


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Re: So two Axiomites come together yet miss each other
nickbuol #420480 09/26/16 01:35 PM
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Currently the river is just over 19 feet. Normal flood stage is 12 feet. Will be seeing it go up a foot every few hours until sometime tomorrow morning when it hits 23 or so feet before going back down.


Farewell - June 4, 2020
Re: So two Axiomites come together yet miss each other
nickbuol #420484 09/26/16 10:36 PM
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Hope it's not as torrential as some of the floods that have happened so far this season.
Sadly some people are totally screwed as most insurance doesn't cover acts of god.

Here's hoping it's able to recede some tonight.

Re: So two Axiomites come together yet miss each other
nickbuol #420485 09/27/16 12:33 AM
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There are some live cameras of Cedar Rapids, but it is hard to get a feel for the amount of water, plus they aren't pointed at anything actually interesting. They put up ones that point at probably the most secure and protected part of the city.

Usually the river is WAY below the bridges, but now was is right up to the desk of the bridges... A few more feet before the crest overnight.

http://khak.com/watch-the-cedar-rivers-rise-in-cedar-rapids-live-video/


Farewell - June 4, 2020
Re: So two Axiomites come together yet miss each other
nickbuol #420486 09/27/16 01:10 AM
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Those vids don't really show the danger, aside from the current level. Almost a tranquil feeling of a ready and evacuated part of town, hopefully more true than just footage of an empty neighbourhood.

Re: So two Axiomites come together yet miss each other
nickbuol #420487 09/27/16 02:04 AM
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Right, nothing showing where the water has already gone past the barriers and into neighborhoods.....

I do have some photos from the past couple of days of prep. These first batch are not my photos.

Anyone notice what is missing from this gas station?


Part of the sand wall on the east side:


Some of the dirt levee addition that was going up on the west side of the river:


The inside of the Paramount Theatre that has all of the seating 100% underground, and in 2008 had 20 feet of water above that. $16million to renovate and it just opened up again about a year ago. It is very ornate, you just can't tell from this photo. All of the seats were removed, as was an old historical organ (that was part of that $16million repair). They are expecting water to get into here again:


Sandbags...


Another business and their sandbags:


Farewell - June 4, 2020
Re: So two Axiomites come together yet miss each other
nickbuol #420488 09/27/16 02:15 AM
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And some photos from where I was working:

This was the house that we emptied on Sunday afternoon. They emptied it top to bottom. Not sure if they plan on coming back. They didn't look like they were in the financial position to buy flood insurance, so if their house gets water, it is done. They refused sandbags...


Adding to the levee on the west side. Dirt was high in clay content and really solid, our job was to wait until it got to the right height (they actually had land surveyors out to make sure that it was "level") and then we unrolled really thick (5+ mil thick) plastic over the other side and then put sandbags on it to hold it in place.


The other side of the levee as of yesterday. This is hard to tell height, but it was pretty tall. This is about half under water today, and rising...


Any manhole cover or sewer access was covered like this and sandbagged to prevent backflow water from flooding....


This was a business that either wanted to keep water out from their door, or zombies inside. I (sadly) joke about this because if water gets up to where the door is, it is going to get up under the siding and into the building anyway... They didn't think about that I guess.


Hard to see, but this is how a lot of the better prepared places are trying to protect their businesses (and homes). They wrapped the bottom of the house with thick clear plastic, taped the top to the house, held the bottom with sandbags, and then stacked sandbags against the plastic...


Sadly, and I don't have a picture of it, I saw a business that did a great job of this, except they butted to pieces of plastic up at their double glass doors. No overlap, and minimal attempt to connect the two pieces of plastic. Water will easily get in that spot and right between the glass double doors....


Farewell - June 4, 2020
Re: So two Axiomites come together yet miss each other
nickbuol #420489 09/27/16 02:47 AM
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Reading threads like this I never quite know what to say. Hope the flood is not as bad as the preparations indicate it could be.

Unfortunately, this is probably the new normal. There are lots of places that are going to have to think long and hard about permanent solutions.

Good luck Nick. Hope all goes well tonight.


Fred

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Blujays1: Spending Fred's money one bottle at a time, no two... Oh crap!
Re: So two Axiomites come together yet miss each other
nickbuol #420490 09/27/16 09:20 AM
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Yeah, what Fred said!


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